nounWord forms: pluralLeonids or Leonides (lɪˈɒnɪˌdiːz)
any member of a meteor shower that is usually insignificant, but more spectacular every 33 years, and occurs annually in mid-November, appearing to radiate from a point in the constellation Leo
Word origin
C19: from New Latin Leōnidēs, from leō lion
Leonid in American English
(ˈliənɪd)
nounWord forms: pluralLeonids or Leonides (liˈɑnɪˌdiz)
Astronomy
any of a shower of meteors occurring around November 15 and appearing to radiate from a point in the constellation Leo
Word origin
[1875–80; ‹ NL Leonidēs, equiv. to L Leōn- (s. of Leō) leo + -idēs-id1]